Remote control switch



"My 1,1930. s. w. Q'KEEFFE I 1,169,540

RBHOTE CONTROL SWITCH' filed June 27. 1928 2 sheets-sheet 1 July 1,1930.

6. w. C'KEEFFE REMOTE con'raou SWITCH Filed June 27, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet2 Patented July 1 1930 UNITED OFFICE GEORGE w. o'xnm, or meow; nAssAcHsia'r'rs, ASSIGNOR 'ro conmr ELECTRICAL MANUFACTURING coarom'rron', orSOUTH BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A 00320- RATION OF MASSACHUSETTS REMOTECONTROL SWITCH Application fled June 27,

mally closed contacts, oneof which is mov-.

able out of engagement with, the otherto effeet the opening of thecircuit of the apparatus to be controlled. The movable contact membersare biased into open and closed positions respectively by spring meansand are moved against the ias of the spring by means oftheir respectivepush buttons- In some instances it has been thei practice to locate thecontact vat 't litaiipivotal point of the movable cdntaht .members, thespring usually comprisingaboil.spring d1s-- posed around the pivotitself; Since this .ar-

rangement does not provide'a strong biasing force to urge the contactmembers into/and out of engagement it has been the general practice touse abutment contacts to avoid any friction between the-cooperatingcontacts, although for other -reasonsthe'- ;frictional and wipingengagement of the. con-- tact is much to be desired.

35. It is therefore an object of the invention -to provide apush-button. switch having contacts adapted to'makefrictional-engagement with each other and biasingmeans for the movablecontacts thereof havi into and out of wipingengagement .with theircooperating fixed contacts.

' A further object is the provision of a pair a of independently movableswitch arms havfi i 40 mechanical advantage to. move t e contacts 1928.Serial No. 288,725.

ing them yieldingly in predetermined positions, and wherein the springis supported internally in operative position by the arms.

Another object of the invention is the provisionof a circuit controllerof the pushbutton type having a pairof oppositely-extendedcircuit-controlling arms which are supported side by side on a commonpivot and are independently movable thereon and have a biasing springwhich is extended across the pivotand is connected with both arms formaintaining them yieldably in predetermined positions.

A yet further objectis the provision of a switch or circuit controllerof the above type and an insulatin support and an enclosing casingtherefor that is cheap to manufacture and easy to assemble.

It is a further object generally to improve the construction ofpush-button electric switches.

Fig. 1 isa frontelevation of an electric Fig. 1,- taken alongline22 ofFig. 1, and showing the parts of the switch in their normal orunoperated positions.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on lines 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. .4 is a perspective view of the insulat-" ing supporting base forthe switch.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the mov- 1 able switch assembly.

Fig. 6 is a detail of a movable switch member. i y

, Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the terminal supporting member for themovable switch members.

81's aperspective. the.support-- L ing rame for the switch by which itis secured in its enclosing casing.

Fig. 9 is a wiring diagram of a typical circuit employing the switchembodying the inventi n r the ccntrelc a e ectric me er,

The switch embodying the invention, as shown herein for purposes ofillustration, is utilized for the remote control of a motor andcomprises two push-button control switches, one a normally open switch Afor starting the motor and the other a normally closed switch B forstopping the motor. The switches are enclosed in a metal casing 10having a cover 12 which provides a removable closure for the open frontthereof; and the various parts of the switch assembly are mounted as aunit on an insulating base. Said base, as shown in Fig. 4, comprises asubstantially rectangular insulating body 14, preferably moulded to theshape illustrated, having integral outstanding terminal-supportingprojections 18 at its opposite ends, and a similar, but some what largerand oppositely extended, projection 20 intermediate its ends. Said baseis also formed with a relatively deep and wide groove, or well, 22 whichextends almost the entire length thereof and within which the stationaryand movable switch members are adapted to be received.

The movable switch members for said starting and stopping switches A andB are identical and comprise the oppositely extended switch arms 24,Figs. 5 and 6, which are made of flat sheet metal with their edgesvertically disposed and having their inner ends overlapping and arrangedfor independent pivotal movement in a vertical plane on a pivotalsupport comprising a pin or screw 26 which is screw threaded into asupporting and terminal member 28 common to both of said switches. Saidterminal comprises two angularly related arms 30 and 32. The arm 30 ishorizontal and is secured to the top of the terminal supportingprojection 20 of the insulating body 14 between shoulders 29 by means ofscrews 33, which screws may be threaded into metal inserts moulded inthe base 14 in a more or less usual way. The arm 32 depends verticallyinto the well 22 and is suitably spaced from the side walls thereofwhereby the movable switch arms 24 carried thereby are disposed withinthe longitudinal middle of said well. As shown particularly in Fig. '7the depending arm 32 of said terminal member 28 is formed withstruck-out lips 34 one on either side of the pivot point. Said lips arearranged to engage the upper edges of said switch arms when the latterare in their normal position, as shown in Fig. 5, and limit the upwardmovement thereof in a direction toward said cover 12. A similarstruck-out lip 35 is provided beneath said switch arms 24 in position toengage an extension thereof and limit the movement of said arms in the.opposite direction. Said switch arms 24 are suitably ofi-set at theirfree ends to provide mutually aligned contact terminals or blades 36which are adapted to be moved into and out of engagement withcooperating stationary contact members in said well 22 by the movementof arms 24 about their pivot 26.

Said stationary contact members comprise the substantially U-shapedmetal contact clips 38 having their ends refiexed into confrontinrelation with each other to provide oppose resiliently supported contactfaces between which said blades 36 are adapted to be engaged. Bolts 40are passed through the bottom of said insulating base 14 and arethreaded into the backs of said contact clips 38 whereby to attach themsecurely to said base. Each of said U-shaped contact clips 38 is adaptedto be connected electrically with a control circuit and for this purposeterminal connectors are provided at each of said terminal supportingprojections 18. -Said connectors comprise metal straps having thereflexed horizontal end portions 42 (Fig. 3) which are clamped beneathand in conducting relation with said U-shaped contact clips 38 by saidbolts 40, and intermediate vertical conducting portions 44 which extendalong the side walls of the well 22 to the top thereof, and refiexedhorizontal terminal portions 46 which lie between and are supportedagainst lateral displacement by shoulders 48 which are provided at thetop of the terminal supporting projections 18. Said terminal portions 46and said common terminal 28 are provided with suitable terminal clampingscrews 50 as is customary. The stationary contacts above described aresimilar except that the contact for the stop switch B is mounted on anelevated supporting portion 7 or ledge 52 at one end of the well 22whereby in the normal position of the movable switch arms 24 the contact36 of the stop switch is in engagement with its cooperating contact 38,while the contacts 36 and 38 of the starting switch A are free fromengagement, as shown most clearly in Figs. 2 and 9.

are also provided to bias, the movable switch arms 24 constantly intothe normal or unoperated position thereof, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5.That is, the upper or starting switch A is normally biased out ofengagement with its cooperating stationary contact 38 and the switch Bis normally biased into engagement with its cooperating stationar-ycontact 38. To this end, the movable switch arms 24 are provided withradial angularly related arms 53 (Fig. 6) and are further provided withinwardlydirected, overlapping arms 54 which are arcuate inconfiguration. Preferably, the curve of said arms 54 conformssubstantially to the circnm -ference of a circle struck about the pivot26 as a The arms 53 are adapted to extend slightly beyond the arcuatearms 54 whereby to provide abutments for the ends of a compressionspring 56 which is disposed loosely about and is carried by theoverlapped ends of said arms 54 and which constantly urges arms 53 apartand consequently screw threaded into said.

urges the switch arms 24 against the abutments 34 of the terminal member28.

Means are also provided for separately moving said switch arms 24 of thestart and sto' switches A andB against the bias of sai spring 56 intoorout of engagement respectively with their cooperating contact members.Said means comprise the insulating switch operating push-buttons 58 and60, each having an operating post 62 moulded therein and pivotallyconnectedat its free, end to a switch arm 24 at 64, whereby upondepressing button 58 the switch arm' 24 of the starting switch may bemoved into engagement with its stationary contact member 38 and bydepressing button 60 the contact member 24 of the stop switch may bemoved out of engagement with its cooperating stationary contact member38 and into a position where in it lies under the contact faces andbetween the resilient arms of the contact members.

The spring 56 is adapted to. return the movable switch arm 24 and itsoperating button in each case as soon as the hand of the operative isremoved from the button, or as soon wiped or scoured at each operationof the switch and the faces thereof are maintained clean and free fromoxide.

The insulatingbase l4 and the switch assembly mounted thereon is securedremovably Within said casing by means of a U-shaped supportin frame.Said frame, as shown in detail in Big. 8, comprises a lower horizontalplate 66 which conforms with the rectangular bottom of said base 14 andan upper horizontal plate 68 having apertures69 therein adapted toreceive the push buttons 58 and 60 loosely therein. Said plate 68 has avertically dependant leg 65, which is adapted to lie between theterminal supporting projec tions 18 of the base 14, the extended end ofwhich is arranged to restupon the upper face of plate 66 whereby tosospace the plates 66 and 68 apart-that the latter is somewhat elevatedabove thetop of the insulating base 14.

Said. plate, 66 is provided with a short upstanding leg 69. which isadapted to overlie the lower end of said leg 65, and bolts 67 are passedloosely thro lithe le 69 and leg 65, w ereby to secure said plates 66and 68 to ether in spaced relationg Bolts 71 are extended through thebase 14 andare screw threaded into said lower plate66whereby tosecurethe frame to the base." Said upper plate 68 is further (proyidedwith diagonally opposed outstan ing tabs '70 which are arranged to restupon struck-out portions 72 provided at the sides ofthe casing 10 nearthe top thereof. Bolts 74 are passed through said tabs and struckoutportions whereby to fix said frame, and

consequently said switch, removably to the casing 10.

In assembling the switch the lower plate 66 and the stationary contactare first secured to the insulatin base .14. The movable switch assembly(F1g. 5) is then placed in the well 22 of the base 14. The upper plate68 is then placed in position and secured by the bolts 67. The switchescan then be placed in operative position in the casing 10.

The apertures 69 in the plate 68 andthe corresponding aligned apertures76 in the cover plate 12 serve to guide the push buttons 58 and 60substantially in a straight line. The push buttons when depressed arefree to move inwardly until the radial arm 53' of said switch arms 24enga e the stop on the terminal member 28. hen the switch arm 24 of thestarting switch A is thus depressed by its operating button 58 intoabutting engagement with said stop 35 the stationary andmovable-contacts thereof are in engagement, while. in the case of thestop switch B when the arm 24 is thus depressed the fixed contact clip38 thereof is so positioned on the elevated block 52 of the base 14 thatthe movable contact 36 lies within the U-shaped sides but out of contacttherewith, thus to open the circuit of the switch. Fig. 9 showsdiagrammatically the circuit connections for remote control of a motor82 by means of the start and stop push button switches A andB embodyingthis invention. A line contactor 84 whenenergized closes the main linecontacts 86 and 88 of the motor circuit and also completes a holdingcoil circuit comprising conductor 89, contacts 36 and 38 of the normallyclosed stop switch, conductor 90, auxiliary contacts 92 of theoontactor84, and solenoid winding'93. ,Sa-id solenoid winding 93 is initiallyenergized by depressing button 58 of the starting switch A to closecontacts 36 and 38 thereof but due to the presence of the holding coilcircuit, which is completed by the operation of the contactor 84, thestart button-may beimmediately released. By depressin the stop buttonthe holding coil circuit lS%)IOkG nand the contac tor 84 opens itscontacts 86, 88' to interrupt the motor circuit, and also opens theauxiliary contacts 92 ofthe holding coil circuit. This is a more or lesscommon arrangement for the remote control of'electric motors and formsno part of the present invention, the-invem tion residing in the novelconstruction of the remote control switch itself. 1

, The cover 12 is secured detachablyin place by a single screw 94 whichpasses'loosely throu h the cover atone side of the vertical planemcludingthe push buttons and is screw threaded into the plate 68. Thehead of said screw has a second screw 96 screw threaded therein which isused to secure over the cover and push buttons a lock-out plate, notherem shown but claimed in my concurrently filed application Serial No.288,726, when it is desired to lock the switch against operation.

Various modifications of the construction shown may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In an electric switch the combination of a switch terminal, a pair ofrelatively movable switch members pivotally mounted on said terminal andelectrically connected therewith, a circuit terminal for each of saidmovable switch members having a fixed cooperative contact memberdisposed in position to be engaged thereby, biasing means acting on saidmovable switch members at points spaced from the pivotal supporttherefor, and means to move said switch members separately against saidbiasing means.

2. In an electric switch the combination of switch terminal, a pair ofrelatively movable switch members having a common pivotal connectionwith said switch terminal, a separate circuit terminal for each of saidswitch members having a fixed contact member disposed in position to beengaged thereby, biasing means comprising a spring having the oppositeends thereof each connected with a separate one of said movable switchmembers at points spaced from the pivotal support thereof, and means toactuate said movable switch members separately against the bias of saidspring,

3. In an electric switch the combination of a switch terminal,'a pair ofrelatively movable switch members having a pivotal support on saidswitch terminal, a. pair of fixed circuit terminals havin contactmembers disposed in position to be engaged by said movable switchmembers as they are moved about their pivots, biasing means for saidmovable switch members common to both of said switch members and carriedby them independently of said switch terminal, and means to move eachswitch member separately against said biasing means.

t. In an electric switch the combination of a switch terminal, a pair ofoppositely extended movable switch arms having overlapping ends and apivotal support for said ends on said terminal, a pair of fixed circuitterminals having contact members, each of which is disposed in positionto be engaged by a separate one of said movable switch members, and acommon biasing means for said movable switch members supported entirelyby and having an operative connection with said switch members at pointsspaced from the pivotal support therefor.

5. In an electric switch the combination of a switch terminal, a pair ofrelatively movable switch members each having a pair of divergent arms,similar arms of said switch members having overlapping ends which have apivotal support on said terminal, a fixed switch terminal for eachmovable switch member arranged to be engaged by one arm thereof, anabutment for each movable switch member, and means cooperating with theremaining arms of said switch members arranged to hold said switchmembers yieldably in engagement with said abutments.

6. In an electric switch the combination of two relatively movableswitch members each having a pair of divergent arms, fixed circuitterminals disposed in position to cooperate with the similar arms ofeach movable switch member, means connecting the free ends of said otherarms arranged to bias said movable switch members for movement abouttheir pivots, and operating means for said movable switch membersarranged to move them selectively against the said biasing means.

7. In an electric switch the combination of two relatively movableswitch members having a common pivotal support, said switch members alsohaving similar, oppositely directed contact arms and adjacent, angularlyrelated radial arms, said radial arms having overlapping arcuateextensions, and a compression spring subtending the angle between saidradial arms and disposed about said arcuate extensions and bearingagainst said radial arms whereby to bias saidmovable switch members forindependent moveient about their pivotal support.

8. In an electric switch the combination of two relatively movableswitch members having a common pivotal support, said switch memberscomprising similar, oppositely-directed contact arms and adjacent,angularlyrelated radial arms provided with mutually overlapping arcuateextensions, an abutment for each of said movable switch members wherebyto limit its pivotal movement, fixed circuit terminals having contactmembers arranged to cooperate with said contact arms, means to move saidmovable switch members selectively away from said abutments to controlthe engagement of said cooperating contacts, and means to bias saidmovable switch members against said abutments comprising a compressionspring disposed on said overlapping arcuate extensions and having ahearing at its opposite ends against the homologous radial arms of saidmovable switch members.

9. In an electric switch, the combination of a pair ofoppositely-extended pivoted switch arms having overlapping projections,and biasing means for said arms includin a coil spring encircling andcarried by said overlapping projections and arranged to urge said armsin opposite directions.

10. In an electric switch, the combination of a pair ofoppositely-extended pivoted switch arms having overlapping projections,and biasing means for said arms comprising a coil compression springencircling and carried loosely by said overlapping projections andhaving its ends bearing against said arms, whereby to urge them inopposite directions.

11. In an electric switch, the combination of a pair ofoppositely-extended pivoted switch arms having overlapping arcuateprojections, and biasing means for said arms including a coil springencircling and carried loosely by said arcuate projections and arrangedto urge said arms in opposite directions.

12. In an electric switch, the combination of a pair ofoppositely-extended concentrically pivoted switch arms havingoverlapping arcuate projections, and biasing means for said armsincluding a coil compression spring encircling and carried loosely bysaid arcuate projections and having its ends bearing against said arms,whereby to urge them for movement in opposite directions.

13. In an electric switch, the combination of a supporting plate, a pairof oppositelyextended switch arms having overlapping ends overlying andhaving a concentric pivoted connection with said plate, said platehaving ears which overlie said arms on opposite sides of and above saidpivotal connection, and also having a projection disposed between and inthe path of movement of said arms and below said connection, whichprojection constitutes means to limit movement of said arms in onedirection, and spring means acting on said arms to hold them yieldablyagainst said ears.

14. In an electric switch, the combination of an insulating block havinga deep and narrow well therein, a supporting plate having a horizontalportion carried by the top of said block and a vertical portion deendant within said well, fixed contact mem ers located within said wellon opposite sides of said supporting plate, a pair of oppositelyextcndedoverlapping switch arms carried by said plate in said well incooperative relation with said fixed contact members and havassociatedwith said fixed contact members rising above said well and terminatedtherewithout.

15. In an electric switch, the combination of an insulating block havinga well therein, stationary and movable switch members located in saidwell, push-buttons associated with said movable switch membersupstanding above said block, a supporting plate overlying the top ofsaid block havin apertures therein through which said pushuttons areGEORGE W. OKEEFFE.

